MCET provides everything from job listings to training grants

WOOD RIVER — There have been a lot of changes in the workforce since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, from disappearing jobs to remote work.

More changes will be coming, and Madison County Employment and Training has a number of programs to help people upgrade skills and find new or better jobs.

Based out of Madison County’s Wood River Facility, officials there tout it as a “one-stop shop” that has both resources and expertise to help both workers and business.

“If you have no money in your pocket, or a million dollars in your pocket, we will provide those services for you,” Director Tony Fuhrmann said Thursday morning.

He said they can help with all phases of a job search, beginning at helping people determine what they want to do and are best suited for; develop skills, including training programs; and actual job searches.

All the office’s services are at “no cost.” Fuhrmann said he dislikes calling them “free,” because there is a commitment required.

As of Friday, January unemployment figures have not been released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, but in December there was a slight uptick in unemployment in the Metro East to 5.4 percent. It had dropped to 5 percent in November, down dramatically from more than 15 percent in April.

At the time, Fuhrmann said the latest uptick was “not surprising” because of the last round of lock downs in December, which hit the hospitality industry hard.

Waiting for clients

Ironically, MCET has both resources for job searches and funding for training, but few people are taking advantage of it right now.

“Our big issue is people not coming and using our services,” Fuhrmann said. “We want to make people aware of what we have here, what we can provide them.”

After going completely online for several months, they reopened the office by appointment only. Despite the gradual opening up of the economy, fewer people than expected have been coming to them.

“We were hoping to see more people coming into our office or utilizing our services, but we haven’t seen a great increase in that,” said One-Stop Manager Antonio Stephens. “We’re hovering about 20 people using services per month. Normally at this time we would have a couple hundred.”

The irony is the office has increased funding for job training, ranging from certificate programs lasting four weeks to two-year programs including associate’s degrees at local community colleges, and helping with four-year degrees at SIUE.

He said part of the hesitancy may be that because there is still pandemic-related money and extended unemployment benefits, some people are “getting by” and hesitant to go back to the work force right now.

“With vaccines being rolled out throughout the state we hope to see numbers increase,” he said.

They are also doing more social media-based promotions, and working with businesses.

“We try to let them know we have these programs available,” Stephens said. “We know you may be in need of certain employees, a certain set of skills. Let us work with you to be able to offer training to those individuals.”

Two areas MCET is emphasizing are apprenticeships and a program to retrain workers into the bio-science field.

An apprenticeship expansion grant allows them to work with businesses and local schools to expand opportunities.

“We’re sort of leading the pack in a lot of things,” he said, adding there are apprenticeship programs for healthcare welding, aviation maintenance and other programs.

“A lot of times when people think of apprenticeships, they think of trade unions,” he said, adding that has changed.

He noted that the U.S. Department of Labor lists more than 1,000 specific apprentice tracks.

“We’re very flexible down here,” he said. “If there’s a business that has an interest, no matter what they’re in, we can meet with them and determine what they are trying to do.”

He said they also have grants to help retrain dislocated workers into bio-science fields. MCET is working with SIUE to create a short-term training program where individuals can get basic certification and get their foot in the door.

“This is based on employers telling us what skills their employees are lacking,” he said. “It’s self-driven. You can do it within 6-12 weeks depending on how ambitious you are.”

Another advantage is much of it is online and remote.

“You’ll have training and skills in a marketable area,” he said. “You’d think you need a degree. All you need is a high school diploma or equivalent to get you into the program. There is really a career path there.”

Client calls MCET a ‘hidden gem’

Don Rommerskirchen calls MCET a “hidden gem” that has helped him immensely.

The Highland resident had worked in the federal prison system as a locksmith, and faced a mandatory retirement at 57.

“I thought ‘I don’t want to retire,’” he said. “So, I came down here. I’ve never been through this before, I hate to say I was nervous, but at 57…”

He was able to get into the HVAC program at Southwestern Illinois College, and will be finished with his certificate program at the end of the summer.

“I’m really good with my hands, and really good at fixing stuff,” he said.

He called the program “fantastic.”

“I study all the time, and I’m always on the dean’s list,” he said. “When I was younger and went to college, my grades weren’t that good.”

When he finishes the program, his instructors have said they have a number of employers willing to hire him, and have also asked him to come back as an instructor.

“I’m going to get a full-time job after this, but it doesn’t matter if I teach full time, or work out there full time, or split it.”

Help for workers and businesses

Kim Bruns, a career navigator at the office, helps people move through the various stages and programs related to career and job searches.

“I think it’s very important,” she said, adding that is especially true for those who have been employed for some time, or are reentering the workforce.

There have been numerous changes in how employers look for workers, and how potential…